Durham County Sheriff Mike Andrews has been criticized for his response to ICE holds. Travis Longtlong@newsobserver.com

Durham County Sheriff Mike Andrews has been criticized for his response to ICE holds. Travis Longtlong@newsobserver.com

Durham

Durham County Sheriff Mike Andrews' campaign has taken down a Facebook post that some community members say appeared to endorse a supporter's racist views.

A man posted a comment on the campaign's Facebook page that said:

“Durham County you better not apathetically sit home on your tails tomorrow … as city block [sic] voters immigrants and minorities will flock to the polls. Then the city special interests will vote out the old … and man … you won’t’ like the ethic [sic] take over new!”

Andrews learned about the post Tuesday morning and had it taken down, he said.

Andrews said one of the page’s moderators who was supposed to schedule events posted the "Amen" comment. The person, one of three moderators on the page including Andrews, wasn’t supposed to be commenting on posts, the sheriff said, and is no longer a moderator or part of the campaign.

Andrews said the post is embarrassing and disappointing considering he has tried to run a clean campaign and it doesn’t reflect his values.

Although the post was deleted, people widely shared a screenshot of the post on social media.

"Team Andrews dropped the dog whistles and has now gone full racist bullhorn," wrote one person commenting on a Facebook post that was shared more than 100 times.

Morrisville Police Chief Patrice Andrews wrote a Facebook post on the re-elect Andrews page saying she was withdrawing her support.

"I believe in accountability for those that you charge with the most important aspects of your professional and personal life. This came across my feed today," she wrote, sharing a screenshot of the deleted post. "What is most disheartening is the response from the moderator on this page supporting this person’s overtly racist and discriminating message. I believe in diversity and inclusiveness. This does not reflect my values and therefore I am removing my endorsement for re-election."

Andrews faces challenger Clarence Birkhead in today's Democratic primary for sheriff. There are no Republican candidates, meaning today's winner will likely be the next sheriff.

The post comes on the last day in an election in which public support for Andrews was already waning compared to the 2014 election.

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